The announcement of their engagement was issued by Clarence House on Twitter, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s official residence, and said details about the wedding day would be unveiled “in due course”.

Harry’s thoughtfulness

Ms Markle’s engagement ring was designed by Prince Harry and features two diamonds which belonged to his mother.

The band is made from gold and at the centre is a diamond from Botswana.

Ms Markle said it was a sign of “Harry’s thoughtfulness”.

She had obviously not been able to meet his mother, she said, but it was “so important to me… to know that she’s a part of this with us”.

Ms Markle said she had met the Queen a couple of times and described her as an “incredible woman”.

Asked about having children, Prince Harry said: “One step at a time and hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future.”

Ms Markle grew up in Los Angeles and attended a private primary school before studying at a girls’ Roman Catholic college. She graduated from Northwestern University School of Communication in Illinois, as her acting career was beginning.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was “absolutely delighted” at the engagement announcement and indicated the couple would have a church wedding.

She was previously married, but the Church of England agreed in 2002 that divorced people could be allowed to remarry in church.